Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Math and Social Justice! No No! Recently, I read a report in a national magazine on income levels of different groups of people in the US. The report especially featured income differences between males, females and different ethnic groups. Some of the statistics were very disturbing. For example, women holding the same job as men with same number of years in the job made considerably less money in most of the states. Differences between ethnic groups were even more disturbing. I decided to use these data in my math class with my 5th graders in a lesson on graphing. The purpose was for the students to be able to interpret graphs and create graphs using the information provided. Students enjoyed the lesson and learned some social justice lessons. Apparently a lot of my students talked to their parents about what they had learned in class when they went home. I received notes from about 10 parents the next day simply indicating that what I taught in my math class would lead to hatred among my students and that I should not be wasting their children's valuable time. Rather, they suggested, I should teach math with no controversial materials. I completely disagree with them and I plan to use similar materials in my other courses as well. However, my principals asked me to send an explanation to those parents. I know my explanation will not stop the complaints. How should I go about this potentially long battle? Or should I take the short cut simply remove such content from my lessons? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) This is a difficult topic. I think it is awesome that you incorporated social lessons into the math lessons. I for one as a math student would learn way more if all math teachers incorporated interesting facts like that into the math lessons. These are things the students need to be aware of. I think the parents should each come in for a one on one meeting with you. This way you can explain where you are coming from, and explain why you think it is beneficial for the students. You will also be able to see their side of the argument. Maybe by doing this you and the parents can come to some agreement. This lets the parents know you are concerned with their feelings. I believe that could be your explanation.